ACTUATOR HAVING SHAPE MEMORY FLEXIBLE CABLE FOR CONVENIENTLY CONNECTING CABLE WITH ELECTRICITY SUPPLY UNIT

• Main Authors: ALACQUA STEFANO, BUTERA FRANCESCO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; Korean
• Published: 05.08.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; BEARINGS; BLASTING; CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BYMECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY; CONTROLLING; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HANDCUFFS; HEATING; KEYS; LIGHTING; LOCKS; MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOTOTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR; OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PHYSICS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER; REGULATING; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; SAFES; SHAFTS; SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS; WIND, SPRING WEIGHT AND MISCELLANEOUS MOTORS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS

PURPOSE: An actuator having a shape memory flexible cable is provided to conveniently connect a cable to an electricity supply unit by two ends of neighboring cables and a U-shaped cable. CONSTITUTION: A flexible cable(2) has one end connected to a control unit. A flexible cover(3) embeds the flexible cable. At least one flexible cable is formed of a shape memory material of which shape changes to control a controlled unit. The cover is coated with elastomer or a synthetic material. The cover is mounted by a support structure fixed to displace vertically. If an actuator moves in opposite directions, the cover is used as a transmission element. A shape-memory cable is deformed by heating. When the shape-memory cable is activated, the shape-memory cable returns to a residual position by elastic returning.